How to neutralize unpleasant smells in the kitchen when washing and cleaning no longer helps

How do I get rid of a bad smells in my kitchen?

What to do when we already care about cleanliness and still smell bad smells in my kitchen?

The kitchen is a special place at home. On the one hand we have quite a lot of odorants and on the other hand we prepare meals there and eat them. However, it often happens that cleanliness and hygiene alone is not enough.

Odorants that occur in the kitchen

The kitchen is a specific place, where we have many possible places where unpleasant odors arise:

Cooking and cooking fumes
Fat burnt
Waste garbage bin
Sink's waste pipe
Fridge
Odors of pet food residues
Larder

Due to its important role in the preparation and consumption of meals, the kitchen is a special place. Especially here you should avoid all kinds of artificial air fresheners or chemical, cheap neutralizers or odor absorbers.

Odor neutralizers for the kitchen

Using all kinds of odor neutralizers in the kitchen is like taking a toothache tablet - it temporarily eliminates the effects, but does not remove the problem.

Yes, in special cases it is necessary to use an odor neutralizer. After a thorough reading of the description on such a product (CLP description - allergens), it is best to use a spray neutralizer to temporarily improve the atmosphere. However, I would recommend avoiding permanent neutralizers such as gels, electric neutralizers (plug-in) or automatic dosing systems.

The kitchen is a place where it is especially important to remember that our olfactory system was created in an evolutionary way to save our lives and prevent food poisoning. Cheating this system by introducing a constant dose of the neutralizer is therefore not good for our health!

Kitchen - refresh and keep clean

We can create a beautiful smell in the kitchen in a natural and healthy way. The best and most effective solution is drying fruits in the oven. Low temperature - up to 60 oC during drying will make the fruits (especially citrus fruits) give us the most wonderful, natural aroma. Unfortunately, this method is quite time-consuming and not always possible for everyday use.

So it is best to use a good quality natural air freshener, with constant evaporation, especially reed diffuser / sola flower type or a good quality gel. Always remember to check the description on the package especially the description of allergens.

I do not recommend hot evaporation solutions, i.e. electrical systems (plug-in type) or automatic pressurized sprays. The former because of the way of hot evaporation, which destroys natural essential oils, and the latter because of the possibility of getting a significant amount of air freshener on food products by dosing product particles constantly in the same place (on food?).

Let us remember - the kitchen is the place on which our whole day depends. A good mood in the morning is worth a bit of effort!

Attention to health - Kitchen place especially important

When using air fresheners or odor neutralizers, always check the description on these products carefully! Particularly important is the description of allergens contained in such products. There are no natural air fresheners that do not contain allergens - this is simply not possible. If there is no information about allergens on the air freshener - throw it away immediately. Lack of descriptions usually indicates that we are dealing with a synthetic product or even worse, that the manufacturer is hiding something from us. This topic is described in more detail in Herbal Garden at Home - Always ask for an MSDS card.

Author: Waldemar Stasiak - ELiX Founder

How to get rid of bad smells at home

Neutralization of unpleasant smells at home is always an important issue. It is not true that the best solution here is to clean frequently and keep it spotless. Unpleasant smells will still enter our home.

The problem is particularly important because we often do not feel the smell of our house ourselves. Only guests can make us aware of the scale of the problem. Why is this happening?

It is a result of adaptation of our senses to the action of stimuli of constant strength - and this is most often the case with smells in our home. In the course of evolution an adaptive mechanism has been developed. This evolutionary invention made it possible to sense and interpret very strong fragrances while remaining sensitive to small changes in intensity. This quick reaction to a change of intensity determined the possibility of getting food, running away from danger or finding a partner. It had to be independent of the intensity of the sensations of constant intensity. In everyday life we encounter such situations very often.

Did you happen to take a cab where the intensity of the air fresheners used there caused a sudden headache (over the pain threshold)? - I assure you that the driver did not feel it at all. After entering such a car you were not able to smell any other smell, but the driver calmly recorded all the smells of used perfume or smelling an apple before eating it. This is how the adaptation mechanism works. It causes us not to smell any other smells of a constant intensity in order to be able to continue to register other appearing smells.

The time to fully adapt to different odor ranges from several seconds to several minutes. So if we do nothing, our guests will get used to our scents after just a dozen or so minutes (but the impression will stay for a long time)!

If we don't smell bad smells in our own house, how to get rid of them?

Removing unpleasant smells at home

Since we are already aware of and know how the mechanism of adaptation to fixed odors works, we have to look for sources of unpleasant odors. In general, we can distinguish between two types of sources of unpleasant odors:

Unpleasant odors reaching our house from outside, these are usually odors whose origin is difficult or impossible to remove:Any odors produced by neighbors
1. Traffic related odors
2. Industry and its nuisance fumes
Unpleasant smells arising in house
1. Shoes
2. Pets
3. Food: cooking and waste
4. Body odors
5. Toilet as a separate topic
6. Musty, damp

In my opinion, only a solution that continuously neutralizes the above mentioned odors can be effective in fighting such a defined problem.

From the neutralizers available on the market we should choose those with continuous action. Of course, all kinds of sprays give an immediate effect and should be used as a support.

Gels - effective and cheap solution, especially recommended for toilets
Membranes - here the range of forms and solutions is quite large, however due to the way the odor is released and the need to pass through the membrane, specially modified fragrance compositions, mainly synthetic, are used in Membranes
Electric Air Fresheners - I am strongly opposed to such solutions. The so-called hot evaporation causes changes in the structure of fragrance compositions and essential oils used there. I personally do not recommend
Automatic Sprays - a very interesting solution, especially if you can find one where no pressure can is used but a regular pump spray - it will certainly be an effective and ecological solution
Reed Diffusers / Sola Flowers - in my opinion, definitely the best solution combining aesthetics with functionality. A very wide market offer will allow you to find the right solution. Be careful only to use those that contain natural essential oils.

During our talks, the subject of neutralizing unpleasant odors at home appears very often and more and more often we meet people looking for a natural and healthy solution.

Despite having natural Sola Flowers in our offer, we decided, together with herbal medicine specialists, to create a new series of natural home odor neutralizers on a herbal basis (Relaxeen brand) to combine the beneficial effects of herbs with effective action. This is the subject we are currently working on. If you have any suggestions or proposals in this area, feel free to contact me, maybe together we will create a new interesting solution.

Author: Waldemar Stasiak - ELiX Founder

Melissa - a wonderful herb

Melissa / Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)

It must have happened that the moment you were boiling with nerves you heard "brew yourself a Lemon balm". And very well, because it has a calming effect. However, this is not the only way to use its incredible properties.

Melissa essential oils

Already the ancient Egyptians knew that essential oils show multidirectional pharmacological, biochemical and physiological activity on the human body. It is said that all rooms and clothes of Queen Cleopatra were soaked in vegetable oils. In Assyria, on the other hand, they were used to prevent the spread of diseases and prevent epidemics.

But what is Melissa oil and what is its influence on us?

Melissa or lemon balm - shows us a pleasant, citrus fragrance. It can be used most easily in the form of aromatherapy. Exactly! It is enough to inhale the scent of essential oils obtained from this irreplaceable plant, and the ingredients contained in them will soothe our mind. It is a fully natural way to improve your mental condition, as well as the functioning of the whole body.

Paracelsus recommended it as "revitalizing people and indicated to all those who complain about nervous disorders". It soothes tensions, irritability and anxiety, and facilitates falling asleep. It has anti-anxiety, calming and antidepressant properties.

Melissa - when to use

Thus, the salutary effect of lemon balm can be used in states of nervous arousal, anxiety and insomnia, as well as in related heart rhythm and digestive tract disorders.

The use of essential oils derived from lemon balm leaves will help us soothe our nerves and regain mental balance. It will help us to stay calm in our everyday life and work.

Melissa - how to use

By exploring the field of aromatherapy and the influence of plant oils on the human body, we have closed the mixture of aromas of various plants, of which Melissa is the leading one, in the form of air freshener. Now we can not only refresh the air in the home or office, but also refresh our mind and mood. There are various fragrance versions available, in which carefully selected composition of aromas and extracts positively influence our mood.

Author: Waldemar Stasiak - ELiX Founder

Herbal garden at home

HERBS: In general use, herbs are plants with savory or aromatic properties that are used for flavoring and garnishing food, for medicinal purposes, or for fragrances.

16-20% of the world production of herbs belongs to Poland, of which about 80% are herbs from cultivation (about 60 species) and 20% from natural sites.

Herbs were used in prehistoric medicine. As far back as 5000 BCE. Some plants contain phytochemicals that have effects on the body. There may be some effects when consumed in the small levels that typify culinary "spicing", and some herbs are toxic in larger quantities. For instance, some can be used for medical purposes to relieve depression and stress. However, large amounts of these herbs may lead to toxic overload that may involve complications, some of a serious nature, and should be used with caution.

Nowadays, herbs are becoming more and more popular because even a small amount can have a positive effect on us.

The question remains: How can we efficiently and easily use the beneficial properties of herbs at home?

Herbs at home:

Popular methods of bringing herbs home usually require a lot of time and energy:

You can start your own cultivation, but this is probably the most absorbing method, requiring a daily commitment of time and energy.

Herbal infusions are a good method, but they require finding a moment during the day to skillfully prepare the infusion. Herbal infusions, however, are a good solution because dried herbal infusions can be stored even for a longer time without losing their healing properties.

Dietary supplements, i.e. herbs in tablets - the choice here is very large. However, despite the assurances of the manufacturers of these preparations, it is always necessary to consult a doctor first.

Herbal essences or herbal air fresheners are probably the most dynamically developing method of delivering herbs. Therefore, I will pay a little more attention to them.

When buying essential oils or herbal air fresheners, pay special attention to the manufacturer and descriptions. According to REACH regulations in the European Union such oils or air fresheners are classified as chemical mixtures. In itself, such designation does not define their natural or artificial origin, because according to this classification ethanol mixed with water (C2H5OH + H2O) is also a chemical mixture, and we used to think that it is ordinary vodka.

It is important to avoid mixtures without description or with a very short description containing only the name of the herbs. Herbs are natural stores of various chemicals that have a positive effect on people if used in the right concentration. Like all natural substances, they can cause allergic reactions. From my experience I know that all preparations that do not have a description of allergens or chemical composition (although this composition looks "chemical") have something to hide. Of course, homemade herbal extracts will not have descriptions, but then we know who prepared them and we trust such a person.

Beware of preparations without any description of allergens, how to proceed in case of getting into your eyes and without chemical composition. This may mean that the producer himself does not know what he is producing or, what is worse, tries to hide something from us.

Always ask for an MSDS card - this is a standard document where you will find a full description of the product and the allergens listed. YES - herbs as a natural product can cause an allergic reaction.

And now, perhaps the most important thing - only synthetic replacements of herbs do not cause an allergic reaction!

I will say it again - only synthetic equivalents of herbs do not cause an allergic reaction and can be sold without this information on the label!

Be sure to ask your dealer for an MSDS card, you don't need to know or read this - just see the dealer's reaction. If it is a natural product, made according to the European Union regulations, such a seller will give you the MSDS card immediately. On the other hand, if you hear that the product is natural because it is so written on it that natural products do not require an MSDS card or other stories prepared to calm you down - think about what the seller is hiding from you!

Herbal essences and natural herbal air fresheners are chemical mixtures (because this is how EU regulations define it) and according to these regulations they must have an MSDS card.

Natural essences and air fresheners are available on the market and do not have to be significantly more expensive than synthetic ones.

The use of natural air fresheners is simple and does not require special treatments. We can find a number of variants here. From the simplest, where they simply have to be sprayed in the room through to reed diffusor solutions, where the aroma is released from various types of rattan sticks, natural flowers (sola flower) or other such elements.

I encourage the use of this type of natural solutions because of their relatively low price and ease of application.

Author: Waldemar Stasiak - ELiX Founder